With gasoline prices finally trending lower, many families will feel a bit less pressure on their summer vacation plans. However, gasoline prices remain at elevated levels, leading many families to stay closer to home and travel regionally.

In the coming weeks, I plan on writing about the best amusements each region has to offer- things to do to keep you closer to home. Some of these facilities and parks I had the pleasure of visiting already, and can recommend them based on personal experience. Some, I will be travelling to in the days ahead.

We'll cover each region with the best amusements for families, theme parks, zoos, aquariums, museums, waterparks, and more! We'll also be sure to tell you how far the distance is, and estimate the cost of gas at your destination.

This is a new feature we're trying out so be sure to check back daily to see when we post destinations in your region! In the process of visiting some of these facilities to review them ourselves, we will also be driving there in new fuel efficient vehicles and be able to share our real world experience when it comes to some new vehicle fuel economy ratings!

Is there any place your family already loves to visit in your own state or nearby?

Can't wait to hear your ideas! I have visited many national parks in Utah but would like to visit some others outside of Utah this summer. I have been to Yellowstone and Jackson Hole, looking for others that are really spectatular.

I have a yen to go on a driving vacation....Out west. I will probably drive 4 to 5 thousand miles and burn somewhere between 175 and 200 gallons of gas. I'm not sure but I think if gas is up 50 cents over last year so we're looking at extra spending of 100 bucks or less. I'm not rich but I can sleep in a cheaper motel a time or two and make that back if I had to. I think we are going crazy over gas prices which have been coming down as I type. So relax folks. Load up the kids and go to Disneyland or someplace. They say they have lowered their family fares by, oh look, a hundred bucks.

I would rather travel than have a staycation. It is nice to see the country like my parents used to do with me. But if a staycation is what we have to do, then it is the country that loses out. People should be able to explore.

Your President Obama is out Campaigning all across the nation tell the American people the Economy is Booming! All is well in America!!

Maybe you could vacation at some of the fun places the Obama family visited below!

Dear American Taxpayer

For only the second time in my adult life, I am notashamed of my country. I want to thank the hardworking American people for paying $242 thousanddollars for my vacation in Spain .

My daughter Sasha, several long-time family friends,my personal staff and various guests had a wonderful time.

Honestly, you just haven't lived until you have stayedin a $2,500.00 per night private 3-story villa at a 5-Star luxury hotel.

Thank you also for the use of Air Force Twoand the 70 Secret Service personnel who taggedalong to be sure we were safe and cared for at all times.By the way, if you happen to be visiting the Costa del Sol ,I highly recommend the Buenaventura Plaza restaurantin Marbella ; great lobster with rice and oysters!I'm ashamed to admit the lobsters we ate in Martha's Vineyard were not quite as tasty,but what can you do if you're not in Europe , you have to just grin and bear it?

Air Force Two (which costs $11,351 per hour to operateaccording to Government Accounting Office reports)only used 47,500 gallons of jet fuel for this tripand carbon emissions were a mere 1,031 tons of CO2.

These are only rough estimates, but they are close.That's quite a carbon footprint as my good friendAl Gore would say, so we must ask the Americancitizens to drive smaller, more fuel efficient cars anddrive less too, so we can lessen our combinedcarbon footprint.

I know times are hard and millions of you are strugglingto put food on the table and trying to make ends meet.So I do appreciate your sacrifices and do hope youfind work soon.

I was really exhausted after Barack took our familyon a luxury vacation in Maine a few weeks ago.I just had to get away for a few days.

Cordially,Michelle (Moochelle) Obama

P.S. Thank you as well for the $2 BILLION dollar tripto India from which we just returned!

P.SS. Thank you, too, for that vacation trip toMartha's Vineyard; it was fabulous.

And thanks for that second smaller jet that took ourdog Bo to Martha's Vineyard so we and the childrencould have him with us while we were away from theWhite House for eleven days. After all, we couldn'ttake him on Air Force One because he might peeon some wires or something.

P.SSS. Oh, I almost forgot to say thanks also forour two-week trip to Hawaii at Christmas. That 7,000square foot house was great!P.SSSs don't forget my ski trip to Vail this winterand now the girls and I are in Africa with my mom.All this while Barack golf’s and campaigns tokeep my trips coming for the next 4 years !Love Ya! Remember, we all have to share the pain of theseeconomic times equally!Love to -redistribute- share- the wealth

Stop your crying people!! YOUR President Obama is on the Campaign Trail telling Americans how WONDERFUL the Economy is!! He is bragging about the Millions of people HE has found jobs for!! ALL IS WELL ACROSS AMERICA!!

Yes, it's the high price of everything. I used to be able to take my kids camping, and gas/food/camp fees were reasonable. No more! We'll stay put. Unfortunately, high prices affect everyone, and cost jobs (especially those in the tourist industry).